Prime Minister Edi Rama appeared in an informal interview with Ukrainian influencer and entrepreneur Max Klymenko, who is based in London, recorded during the NATO summit held several weeks ago. In the short conversation, structured more like a social media format than a classic political interview, Rama touched on issues ranging from governance to sleep, sport and relations with European leaders.
Light in format, but with political questions
Klymenko, known on TikTok and YouTube, approached Rama with several direct questions, including about the hardest part of the job as prime minister and the biggest threat facing Albania.
In his answers, Rama chose a brief and concise tone. Asked about the country’s biggest challenge, he said that “the biggest threat to Albania is Albanians,” linking this to what he said was the need for more work and progress toward the European Union. In his version, EU membership would make the country “safe even from ourselves.”
‘I sleep five hours a day, maybe even less’
Part of the conversation also focused on the prime minister’s personal routine. Asked about sleep, Rama suggested that he sleeps around five hours a day, or even less.
The interview format was clearly aimed at easy communication for a social media audience, where politics mixes with personal elements and public image. This shifts attention from the government’s record to the leader’s personal profile, a technique often used in modern political communication.
Meloni at the top of the list, Rutte as a ‘challenging’ relationship
Asked about relations with world leaders, Rama said he has good relations with everyone, but singled out Giorgia Meloni as the best relationship. He also linked this to the special relationship between Albania and Italy.
On Mark Rutte, Rama said the relationship was “very challenging” when he was leading the Dutch government. Later, according to him, the relationship changed and turned into friendship. Rama also added that Rutte is the person who, in his view, knows best how to manage Donald Trump.
From art and basketball to refusing to give advice
In the more personal part of the interview, Rama spoke briefly about his past, saying he had been a full-time artist and had played basketball up to the national team. He also said he no longer follows basketball “with the black jerseys off the court,” suggesting disappointment with the non-sporting side of the game.
At the end, asked what advice he would give young people, Rama chose not to give any. He said that since childhood he had felt uncomfortable receiving advice and had promised himself that, when he grew up, he would not give advice to young people.
Who is Max Klymenko
Max Klymenko is a Ukrainian influencer and entrepreneur based in London, known for content on TikTok and YouTube. He became known through the “Career Ladder” series, in which he tried to identify people’s professions on the street within a few minutes.
His public profile states that he was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list in 2024 and that in 2025 he won the “Creator of the Year” award at TikTok UK. In addition to career-related videos, he also covers topics related to business, the economy, brands and global issues.
The interview did not produce any new political development, but served as another space in which the head of government built his personal narrative before a global social media audience.
Beyond the light tone, the remarks about the EU, Meloni and Rutte remain the politically weightiest part of this public appearance.